The final synthesis project for 'M.S. in Sustainable Design' included research on passive conditioning techniques, resulting in the formation of a toolkit for high-performance office buildings with dynamic and climate responsive design solutions. The aim was to challenge the blind aping of glass buildings from the west in hotter climates of India which used excessive energy for cooling as well as extra money was spent in regaining comfort level.

 

A three-tier analysis approach was taken along with climatic analysis, where:

Natural Processes / Biomimicry offered insights to form finding based on dynamic behavior that can lead to adaptive facade solutions.

 

Ancient Vernacular Practices offered historical insights to ensuring thermal comfort which led to contemporary solutions tightly coupled to climate.

 

High-Performance Climate Responsive Modern architecture that offered technological insights for dynamic solutions and could imbibe qualities of natural processes and vernacular practices into new techniques.

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Emphasis was laid on three major aspects namely Natural Ventilation, Heat Gain Reduction and High-Performance Shading. Finally, design recommendations were laid down for two major cities with high commercial development namely Ahmedabad (Hot-Dry climate and Mumbai (Hot-Humid climate).